For almost 30 years, a small framed Sport Graphics picture has hung on my wall. The image is that of a 4 man rowing shell going down the race course of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia at the 1988 Dad Vail Regatta, which was the national race for smaller programs. That was my boat. It was […]

A tad over a year ago, our firm welcomed Brittany Alvarez to our growing team of professionals. While new to the industry, we had a great feeling that she’d be successful. She was. Brittany was the company’s 2015 Rookie of the Year, a million dollar plus producer, and among our finest agents right out of the […]

It is with great pride that I introduce my esteemed colleague Gloria Hernandez as the branch manager for the firm’s Pelham Market Center. Gloria has been licensed for over 15 years and brings a wide range of experience to the position, but what I love most about her is her dry wit- few people can […]

If you like a brick Tudor in the Chilmark area, $705,000 just bought your dream home. This 4 bedroom, 3 bath stately house is a stunner- we were honored to list it for the sellers. As described in the MLS: The most peerless property in sought after Chilmark. Restored brick Tudor set on a quiet […]

I was incredibly honored this past week to be asked by my colleague Joe Rand to be a late addition to a panel he was moderating at the Inman Connect Conference on the “SWOT” of the real estate industry. My fellow panelists were Pam O’Connor, CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, and […]

A year ago at this time I was happy to share how 2014 had been, by far, the best year in the history of the firm. We had opened 3 new branch offices, expanded our team to almost 70 agents, and set records for sales production. It would be a tough act to follow.  2015 […]

I LOVE these classic homes- here are some great homes at great prices with character, style and an awesome lifestyle. http://westchesterrealestateblog.net/idx/city/ossining/

SEATTLE In the very same week that the Zillow Group set social media in the real estate space on fire with their purchase of software firm Dotloop, CEO Spencer Rascoff has announced the purchase of website AshleyMadison.com. It is unknown how the dating platform for cheating spouses fits into Zillow’s model, but industry insider comments […]

Jennifer Maher, the manager of our Mahopac office, has done it again and hired another renaissance woman. She and I are  excited to announce the affiliation of Licensed Salesperson Brittany Alvarez with the firm. Want to hear glowing praise? Check this out: “Ms. Alvarez’s reputation in Putnam County precedes her. Brittany is known as a […]

I am biased, but I think I have the best people on my firm’s team. That’s why the company has grown through an era in the industry when many other firms disappeared. One of the very best examples is Angela Johnson. In August, 2012 when Angela joined the brokerage I wrote this: …”it is with immense […]

If you’ve noticed the conspicuous absence of updates here let me assure you that the reasons are all good. I am fine, the company is fine, and we have been busy. I have lots of good news to report. First, after our best year in 2013, I wrote a year ago that I could foresee […]

“De-cluttering” is so 2008.  As I advise new clients listing their homes on the market to sell this spring, I am surprised to see how their jaws drop when I start the pre-sale preparations not with tidying up, curb appeal or repairs, but with fighting the battle online.  Here’s what I mean: Before the 2014 consumer visits […]

After 4 years as Vice President of the Multiple Listing Service, this past Thursday I was sworn in as 2014 MLS President. I have to admit that it was a proud moment, but I also feel very strongly that there is quite a bit of work to do. Our association has merged with 3 other […]

Name recognition is something all business enterprises aspire to have. A good reputation, a book of business, “getting your name out,” is the goal of every company. In a brand conscious place like Westchester County, it is the holy grail. That being said, industry specific circumstances often make that aspiration a constantly moving target. For […]

I am happy to share that 2013 was perhaps the best year in the company’s history. Not only did we crush our 2012 numbers, but J. Philip Real Estate exceeded some lofty goals I had set a year ago.  2013 was the first year that the firm closed over 100 transactions. That was my most […]

As the real estate market cycles into a recovery, talking heads are discussing what index will be the most accurate predictor of the 2014 market. Will it be new housing starts? Employment? The DOW?  I beg to differ. In 2014, we’ll be busier than any year since 2005 due in the largest part to one […]

While I never intended to take a formal break from writing, one day a guy wakes up and sees that he hasn’t posted an update since August. It wasn’t planned; nothing bad happened to me. I have just always felt that I would never “force it,” and I had nothing to say for a while. […]

I seldom “curate” content of other blogs but this is too thought provoking and insightful to not share. Greg Fischer, a pretty profound real estate broker in Fort Worth, Texas penned an outstanding piece on moving entitled Moving the feelings|Sometimes boxes are the easiest things to pack. VERY good stuff, and while you are there […]

While the real estate market here in Westchester and the Hudson Valley is certainly on the mend, one vestige of the old buyer’s market, the would be-buyer with the low ball offer, is still with us. Typically, the justification for the low offer is one of two things: the property is unsold, or the property […]

The casual consumer may not find this subject terribly interesting. Market watchers and industry people will be talking about it all day. Earlier this month, President Obama was interviewed by Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff on the state of housing in the United States. The National Association of Realtors, feeling snubbed perhaps (although they shouldn’t. The […]